The Institute for Christian Teaching

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Announcing...

39th Seminar for the Integration of Faith and Learning
Montemorelos University, Mexico
June 28 - July 10, 2009

This upcoming seminar will be held in Spanish. For further information, click on the "Español" link at the top of this page.

38º Seminario de Integración Fe y Enseñanza
Universidad de Montemorelos, México
Junio 28 - julio 10, 2009

Este seminario será impartido en español. Para información adicional, active este enlace.

Announcing...

40th International Seminar on the Integration of Faith and Learning
Asia-Pacific International University, Thailand
July 19-31, 2009

Sponsors. The 40th International Faith and Learning Seminar is being co-sponsored by the Institute for Christian Teaching (a service of the General Conference Department of Education) and the Education Department of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, with additional support from The Foundation for Adventist Education. It will be offered on the main campus of Asia-Pacific International University (formerly Mission College), Muak Lek, Thailand, July 19-31, 2009.

Participants. This interdisciplinary seminar is open to educational leaders as well as to administrators, faculty, and researchers from Seventh-day Adventist colleges, seminaries, and universities who hold a minimum of a master’s degree and can communicate fluently in English. Participants will be selected on the basis of an essay proposal submitted with the application, with preference given to college/university administrators and education directors.

Background. More than 700 Adventist educators have participated in the 38 previous seminars of the Institute for Christian Teaching, which have been held in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, England, France, Ghana, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States. Over 600 essays on the integration of faith with various academic and professional fields, prepared by seminar participants, along with many relevant articles, have been published in the Christ in the Classroom collection, which now includes 35 volumes. Sets of this collection are available in the libraries of Adventist colleges and universities worldwide. A selection of these essays can be downloaded free from the Institute’s website: http://ict.adventist.org.

Objectives. The main objectives of this interdisciplinary seminar are:

To provide participants an opportunity and a context for focused study, reflection, and discussion of the essentials of Seventh-day Adventist educational philosophy and their implications for teaching, learning, administration, and research.
To familiarize participants with the basic concepts of the integration of faith, values, learning, and profession, its bibliography, and their application in educational settings.
To assist participants in the refinement of a publishable essay that will bring to bear on his or her area of activity the essentials of Adventist educational philosophy and the concepts of faith and learning integration.
To enable participants to become initiators or supporters of the process of integrating faith, values, teaching, learning, and administration among their colleagues in their respective educational contexts.

Program. The theme of the seminar will be “Conveying Christian Beliefs and Values through Adventist Education.” Participants selected will receive a set of basic books to read in advance of the seminar. During the first part of the program, lecturers and participants will review the major worldviews and educational philosophies, and examine their implications for Christian educators, administrators, and researchers. The second part will be devoted to a review of the integration of faith, values, and learning in academic and professional areas. In the meantime, each participant will expand an essay in his or her academic/professional field, which will then be presented in draft form to the group during the closing sessions. Above all, participants will enjoy the time for concentrated reading and reflection, as well as the stimulating exchanges among colleagues and guest lecturers from various cultural backgrounds.

Finances. The financing of this seminar will be undertaken as follows:

Each employing organization is expected to continue the salary of the educators selected and provide for their travel and the cost of the meals while he or she attends the seminar. The three daily meals on campus will cost USD$15.00.
Asia-Pacific International University will provide local transportation, will house the participants in the campus residences free of charge, and will make available the meeting facilities as well as library access and computer use.
The seminar organizers will contract the lecturers, cover the cost of the basic books and duplicating on campus, and provide travel assistance as follows: USD$200.00 to participants coming to Thailand from within the Southern Asia-Pacific Division or the Northern Asia-Pacific Division; USD$300.00 to those coming from the South Pacific Division; and USD$450.00 to participants from other world divisions.

Applications. Adventist teachers, administrators, researchers, and educational leaders who hold a graduate degree are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Printed application forms may be secured from academic administrators on each campus, from Dr. Joy Kurian (jckurian@missioncollege.edu), or from Mrs. Linda Torske at the General Conference Education Department (torskel@gc.adventist.org) Application forms may also be downloaded here.

Application forms must be submitted to Mrs. Linda Torske as attachments to an e-mail message or via fax: 301-622-9627. The deadline for receiving the completed application at the General Conference Education Department is March 6, 2009.

Selection. The Selection Committee will take into account the originality and relevance of the essay proposal submitted, while maintaining a balance among the institutions and disciplines represented. It is expected that up to 30 participants will be chosen. Before applying, interested individuals are urged to review the latest volume in the Christ in the Classroom series (available at all Adventist college, seminary, and university libraries) in order to acquaint themselves with the subjects and format, and to avoid submitting proposals for topics already covered. The preliminary pages of the latest volume contain a comprehensive "Subject Index to the Essays." A selection of these essays may be downloaded free from the Institute’s website: http://ict.adventist.org.

Notification. Candidates selected will be notified by March 16, 2009, and will be given one week to accept or decline the appointment. Alternates will also be notified by the same date and will be contacted immediately in the event that any first-round candidate declines the invitation. It is expected that the final roster of participants will be confirmed by March 31, 2009.

Honorarium. The Institute will grant an honorarium of USD$150.00 to participants who, two months after the seminar, submit a publishable essay to be included in the next volume of the Christ in the Classroom series, which will be made available free to the authors as well as to the libraries of Adventist colleges, seminaries, and universities worldwide.